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Āvaśyaka Kriyā
137
it becomes instrumental in the development of the soul through the Nirjarā of Karma. Salutation leads to humbleness and the annihilation of egoism. One acquires worship and devotion to the elders, obedience to the orders of the Tirthankaras and propitiation of the dbarma that is scriptural. All these by stages become instrumental in the attainment of liberation through the development of Ārmā, Persons who resort to salutation reap the benefit of hearing of the Scriptures because of humbleness. The reward, in due order, by the attentive hearing of the Scriptures is knowledge--Vijñāna, Pratyākhyāna, control, Anāsrava, austerity, annihilation of Karma, a state of actionlessness and liberation. Salutation is therefore clearly an instrument of the development of Atmā. In reality, Ātmā is perfection in power and purity; it is enveloped by so many desires and faults due to its falling in the beginningless stream of various passions. When there. fore, it tries to sublimate itself, committal of mistakes is natural to it, because of its beginningless practice. There is no attainment of the desired goal till the Ātmā gets purified of the faults and blunders.
The Ātmā therefore resolves, through Pratikramana, to get pure of these and constantly remembers these committed at different stages. In this manner, the purpose of the activity of Pratikramaņa is to remove the mistakes committed formerly and to make the
ned and alert about their non-repetition in future. This will make the Atmā steadily free from faults and firm in its pure nature, Kâyotsarga brings about concentrati
Râyotsarga brings about concentration of the mind and the Atmā gets an opportunity to think on and ponder over its real nature. This wins fearlessness for the Ātmā and is enabled to attain to its difficult goal of liberation. The Kriyā therefore of Kāyotsarga is also spiritual. Everything that exists in the world cannot be enjoyed; it is not even enjoyable in its entirety. Genuine peace cannot be attained to even with countless sacrifices. Persons desiring liberation therefore save themselves by Pratyākhyāna Kriyā. from meaningless enjoyments and attain to eternal peace of the soul. Even this kriyā is therefore spiritual.
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